Renal Disorders (Nursing 216) Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering renal anatomy, diagnostic markers, Nephrotic Syndrome, Kidney Stones, PKD, and Urinary Tract Tumors.

Nephron

The millions of tiny filtering units in each kidney, each consisting of a glomerulus and a tubule.

Glomerulus

A little cluster of capillaries within the nephron responsible for filtering the blood.

Erythropoietin

A hormone produced by the kidneys that tells the bone marrow to produce red blood cells ($RBCs$).

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)

A test measuring kidney function with a normal range of $7-20\,mg/dL$. Increased levels indicate kidney problems, dehydration, or high protein.

Creatinine

The best simple marker of kidney function, with normal ranges of $0.7-1.3\,mg/dL$ for men and $0.6-1.1\,mg/dL$ for women.

GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate)

A measure of kidney function with a normal range of $90-120\,mL/min/1.73m^2$. A value $<60$ indicates moderate impairment and $<15$ indicates end-stage renal disease.

Urinalysis Specific Gravity

A measure of urine concentration with a normal value range of $1.005-1.030$.

Nephrotic Syndrome

A condition where the glomeruli become "leaky," causing a massive amount of protein to escape from the blood into the urine.

Hypoalbuminemia

Low blood protein (serum albumin $<3\,g/dL$) that drops oncotic pressure, causing fluid to leak into tissues and resulting in edema.

Hyperlipidemia

High cholesterol and triglycerides that occur in nephrotic syndrome as the liver tries to compensate for low blood protein by making more lipoproteins.

Proteinuria

The presence of protein in the urine; in nephrotic syndrome, it is severe, exceeding $3.5\,g/day$.

Foamy-looking urine

A clinical sign often associated with high levels of protein in the urine, characteristic of nephrotic syndrome.

Ascites

Generalized edema occurring in the belly area, common in patients with nephrotic syndrome.

Renal Colic

Intense, sharp pain in the back/flank that radiates to the lower belly and groin, coming in waves; classic symptom of kidney stones.

Hematuria

Blood in the urine, making it look pink, red, or brown; it is the #1 red-flag symptom for urinary tract tumors.

Tamsulosin

An alpha-blocker medication used to relax the ureter to help a kidney stone pass.

Lithotripsy

A surgical procedure to break up kidney stones into "sand," such as extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy ($ESWL$).

Ureteral Stent

A device often placed after lithotripsy to help stone fragments pass, typically removed about 2 weeks later.

ADPKD (Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease)

The more common genetic form of PKD that typically manifests in adulthood.

ARPKD (Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease)

A rare genetic form of PKD that appears during childhood.

TURBT (Transurethral Resection of a Bladder Tumor)

A surgical procedure where superficial tumors are removed with a cystoscope, requiring no external incision.

Intravesical Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy instilled directly into the bladder rather than systemic administration to the whole body.

Post-Op Normal Urine Findings

Following kidney or bladder surgery, pink urine and dark red or rust-colored flecks are considered normal for $7-10\,days$.